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Computing > Unit 1 - 3 > Flashcards

Unit 1 - 3 Flashcards

1
Q

Define a network?

A

A collection of digital devices that are able to communicate with one another

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2
Q

Benefits of networks?

A

Accessing files and share files on multiple devices, sharing data e.g. printer

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3
Q

Drawbacks of networks?

A

Susceptible to certain cyber attacks, security breaches and it is expensive

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4
Q

What does NIC stand for?

A

Network interface controller

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5
Q

What does NIC do?

A

It is a computer HARDware component that implements the electronic circuitry using specific physical layers

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6
Q

What is a network switch?

A

A physical switch that connects more devices to the same or different networks

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7
Q

What is a benefit of a network switch?

A

Saves time for businesses

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8
Q

What is LAN?

A

Local Area Network - A group of computers and devices that share data to a server

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9
Q

Drawback of LAN?

A

Confined to a specific geographic area?

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10
Q

Define bandwidth?

A

A measure of the amount of data that the medium can transfer over a given period of time

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11
Q

How does bandwidth affect network performance?

A

Dependant on how much data is being used which will depend on the speed of HOW MANY devices are on the network

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12
Q

What is a medium (transmission medium)?

A

How data is carried from one place to another either wired or wireless

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13
Q

How does the number of devices affect network performance?

A

Network congestion, slower speeds, bandwidth needs to be larger for larger amounts of data and more devices to be on the network without the network being affected

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14
Q

What is a star network?

A

A local area network (LAN) topology in which all nodes (nodes = any device connected to a network) are directly connected to a common central computer hub/switch.

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15
Q

Give advantages of a star network?

A

Very reliable, high performing given no data collisions can occur

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16
Q

Give disadvantages of a star network?

A

Expensive to install, if hub or switch fails all devices no longer have any network

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17
Q

What is WAN?

A

Wide area network - Spread over a wide geographical area, used to communicate all over the world

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18
Q

Give advantages of WAN?

A

Large range and can communicate across branches such as banks

19
Q

Give disadvantages of WAN?

A

Extremely expensive to have set up across a large area

20
Q

What is an FTP?

A

File transfer protocol - Is a file server where you can download and upload files to a network on the PC

21
Q

What is an email sever and what does it do?

A

It is permanently online and when logging onto computer it downloads and transmits emails to other email servers

22
Q

What is a DNS server?

A

Domain name server - Translates a domain name into an internet address (turns web addresses into IP addresses)

23
Q

What does the cloud mean?

A

Generic term for remotely accessed storage

24
Q

Give 2 advantages of the cloud?

A

Have the ability to access files from any location or device - Reduced need to make backups because cloud stores back up storage for you

25
Q

Give 2 disadvantages of the cloud?

A

You may not know who is accessing your data
You need internet connection to access backup

26
Q

What is mesh networking?

A

There is no central hub/switch, instead each node (device) is connected to at least one other node, the nodes act as relays passing on a message between themselves to help the message to its final destination

27
Q

What are the two types of mesh networking?

A

Full mesh topology and partial mesh topology

28
Q

What is the difference between full mesh topology and partial mesh topology?

A

Full mesh - each node is directly connected to each other node, all interlinked
Partial mesh - Not all nodes are directly connected to one another meaning there are fewer routes for a message to travel

29
Q

What are the benefits of a wired connection?

A

Much faster, more reliable, less likely to be exposed to hacking

30
Q

What are the drawbacks of a wired connection?

A

Expensive, messy, not ideal for portable devices

31
Q

What are the benefits of a wireless connection?

A

Greater configuration flexibility, low maintenance, less expensive

32
Q

What are the drawbacks of a wireless connection?

A

Speed is slower, proximity is required, easier to hack

33
Q

Explain the basics of Bluetooth?

A

Form of wireless communication that enables different devices to connect, piconet is an ad hoc network that inks a GROUP of wireless devices to a network

34
Q

Define an IP address?

A

Unique string of characters that identifies each device using the internet protocol to communicate over a network

35
Q

What is MAC Addressing and why is it used?

A

Media access control - a unique identifier that is assigned to a network interface, contains a string of hexadecimal numbers, used to identify a device that has joined the network

36
Q

What are the 3 types of MAC addressing?

A

Unicast, Multicast, broadcast

37
Q

Define encryption?

A

An algorithm that is used to transform data into cipher text - MORE COVERED IN 1.4

38
Q

Give 3 types of protocols?

A

TCP - Transmission Control Protocol that enables communication over the internet
HTTP - Hypertext transfer protocol governs communication between a web server and a client
FTP - File transfer protocol that governs transmissions of files across a network

39
Q

What is network layering and why is it used?

A

To break up the sending of messages into separate components and activities so it is easier for receiving device to process.

40
Q

What are the 4 stages of network layering?

A

Application - TCP (Transport control protocol) - Network - Link

41
Q

Describe the 1st layer - Application?

A

Encodes and decodes the message so that the receiver can interpret it correctly

42
Q

Describe the 2nd layer - Transport layer?

A

Breaks down message into small packets, each packet is given a number and the total number of packets is sent in the message so that the receiver can put packets in order to interpret message and see if there is a missing packet

43
Q

Describe the 3rd layer - Network?

A

Adds the IP address so that the network knows where to send the message so that the recipient can receive it

44
Q

Describe the 4th layer - Link layer?

A

Enables transfer of packets between nodes on a network and between networks

Computing (12 decks)

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